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Cuomo’s student loan plan praised

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state of the state address includes a student loan forgiveness proposal that is earning high marks at Corning Community College.

As part of his annual state of the state address today, Cuomo plans to roll out the idea he first brought up last year.

The student-loan program would apply to those who graduate from a New York-based two- or four-year school in 2015 or later, continue to live in the state, earn less than $50,000 annually and enroll in the federal Pay As You Earn repayment system.

For two years, the state would cover the balance of the student loan payments not covered by the federal program. When fully implemented, Cuomo's office estimates it would cost $41.7 million.

Any program that makes education more affordable is worth taking a hard look at, said Corning Community College President Katherine Douglas.

“The No. 1 reason students do not succeed is financial. So the more assistance we can get to help students afford a college education the more they will succeed and compete,” Douglas said. “Do I support the program? Absolutely.”

Students who have loans are also in favor of anything that might ease their burden.

“I support it if it actually happens. I hadn’t really thought about (loan payback) until after graduation,” said CCC student Rhiannon Murphy, of Wayland.

“It’s definitely a lot of money,” said student Michelle Holley, of Canisteo. “It would be nice to have some of that (debt) taken away.”